The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India, has initiated National Green Corps(MGC) under the scheme Environment Education,  Awareness and Training in the year 2001-2002 with an objective to impart knowledge among school children through hands on experience, about their immediate environment,  interactions within it and the problems therein with an aim to inculcate proper attitudes towards the environment and to sensitize children on the environmental issues as children have no vested interest in out future and impressionable and single most important influence in any family.  The NGC programme was implemented as the flagship programme of MOEF&CC for non-formal environment education till 2021-22.

Aims:

In the year 2022-23, National Green Corps programme was revamped to Environment Education Programme (EEP) with the following aims

1. To leverage on the key sectoral strength of Eco-clubs already formed under National Green Corps programme, in addition to targeting youth clubs and other such clubs/units groups formed under various programmes/schemes.
2. To scale up activities from the symbolic ones to focused training/campaigns on sustainable lifestyle for motivating children/youth to think critically in such a way, so as to live harmony with nature.  Long lasting change is the mostly one when it is self-motivated and rooted in positive thinking.
3. To supplement the knowledge that the children and young generation gain from class rooms with experience from nature and hands-on activities.  Psychological interventions to behavioural changes like education, enablement, incentivization, modelling persuasion and training would be the building blocks of this programme.
4. The EEP of the Environment Education, Awareness Research and Skill Development scheme particularly aims to promote pro-environmental behaviour and sustainable lifestyle through concerted efforts to impart knowledge of issues, action strategies and action skills.

objective:

To sensitize children/youth on environment issues and to motivate them to adopt sustainable lifestyle, through varied pedagogical initiatives like workshops, projects exhibitions, campaigns, competitions, nature camps summer vacation programme etc.,

Implementing Agency

The implementing agencies (IA) could be any agency or autonomous body/ institute of Central or State Government/UT Administration having mandate related to education/environment.  IA would be nominated by the respective authorities like Central/State Government/UT Administrative and finalized by the Ministry by the Ministry with the due approval of Secretary, (E,F&CC)

Details of the programme

Sustainable lifestyle workshops, projects, Exhibitions, Campaigns, Competitions, Nature Camps, Summer Vacation Programmes etc.,

1. The Workshops would give target beneficiaries a platform for developing scientific temper and critical thinking, display creativity and nature value like compassion and empathy, in addition to strengthening to concepts and opportunity to experiment and experience sustainable solutions, which use minimal resources, cause minimal pollution and generate minimal waste.
2. Projects may also impactful demonstration projects like solar solutions., waste management units, composting units etc.,
3. Exhibitions are intended to display of the eco-friendly products may be target beneficiaries to general public or a targeted audience so as to sensitive them and promote the uses of such products.
4. Nature Campus would help target beneficiaries to understand and appreciate India’s unique natural diversity, varied eco systems, flora and fauna, as well as to understand the threats to their survival.
5. Thematic campaigns/competitions like quiz, debate, essay writing, painting, physical activities, etc., would give target beneficiaries a platform for expressing their ideas and spreading their word to the public.

Monitoring and Evaluation

          In order to oversee and review the activities being carried out, review meetings would be conducted at the level of Additional Secretary/Joint Secretary.  Monitoring Financial performance would be done through PFMS portal, Management Information System (MIS) provided by the authorized bank and Scrutiny of Utilization Certificate and expenditure statement.  Online monitoring of physical activities would be done based on online data reporting, digital footprint, web-streaming of activities, etc.,

Deliverable

• Individuals who adopt pronenvironmental behaviour or environmentally responsible behaviours have an inclination to secure a sustainable lifestyle that has little impact on the environment.
• One can adopt   a sustainable lifestyle by re-designing and restructuring their day-to-day activities in such way not to burden the Earth’s natural resources but supplement the efforts towards conservation and preservation of the environment.
• Increase in knowledge and awareness does not necessarily lead to pro-environmental behaviour.
• People with strong pro-environmental attitudes, a strong internal locus of control and greater sense of personal responsibility are more likely to engage in pro-environmental behaviour.

Outcome

• Appreciating of nature and natural resources as well as their importance
• Creating love towards environment, nature and wildlife
• Instilling concerns for nature and natural resources conversation
• Introducing variety of flora and fauna of the forest, grasslands, rivers, wetlands deserts and other ecosystems
• Providing an exciting and adventure filled opportunity to children to explore into natural areas and wildlife.
• Motivating students to adopt an eco-friendly lifestyle for the protection of the environment, nature and natural resources
• Helping them develop skills of leadership, team work discovery.